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Mark Oaten
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MP for WinchesterMark Oaten entered Parliament at his third attempt in November 1997, gaining this seat from the Conservatives at a by-election after his two vote victory in the (...) |
Biography
Mark Oaten entered Parliament at his third attempt in November 1997, gaining this seat from the Conservatives at a by-election after his two vote victory in the General Election was declared void. He was re-elected in 2001 and 2005, but is standing down at the next general election.
Mark Oaten was educated at Watford Comprehensive School and Hatfield Polytechnic. After working as a consultant for Shandwick Public Affairs [1988-92], he joined Westminster Communications and became director of Westminster Public Relations in 1996; in 1995 he was appointed a director of Oasis Radio, a Hertfordshire commercial radio station.
During the early 1980s he joined the SDP and acted as agent in a number of elections. In 1986 he became one of the country's youngest councillors and the first ever SDP councillor on Watford District Council; he served for eight years, becoming group leader. He was selected to fight Winchester in 1995. His two-vote victory in May 1997 was declared void, but a by-election held in November 1997 convincingly confirmed him in the seat with a majority of 21,556.
As an MP his work on local issues includes: campaigning for Trade Justice and warm homes and against the Council Tax.
He was the party's Shadow Home Secretary from 2003 until he resigned in January 2006. Previous posts have included: Chairman of the Parliamentary Party [2001-03]; Spokesman for Disabilities; a member of the Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and Defence teams; and Chairman of the All Party Groups on Far Eastern Prisoners of War and on Adoption. In the 2001 Parliament, he was office holder for the All Party Groups on Adoption, EU Accession and Human Rights.
Education:
Watford Comprehensive School, Hertfordshire Polytechnic
Experience:
Consultant for Shandwick Public Affairs 1988-92, Group Director for Westminster Communications, Managing Director of Westminster Public Relations 1996
Council experience:
Elected to Watford District Council in 1986
Parliamentary experience:
Chair of the Parliamentary Liberal Democrats 2001-3, Shadow Home Secretary 2003-6; in the 2001-2005 Parliament, Treasurer, All Party Parliamentary Humans Rights Group, Secretary, All Party EU Accession Group, Co-Chair, All Party Adoption Group
General election 2005 result
Seat: Winchester
Current MP: Mark Oaten
| Liberal Democrats | 51% | 31225 votes | |
| Labour | 8% | 4782 votes | |
| Conservatives | 39% | 23749 votes | |
| Others | 3% | 1902 votes |